Folklore scholar Lingaiah collapses on stage, dies

 Prof D Lingaiah, 72, noted folklore scholar and president of B M Sri Foundation, breathed his last after he collapsed on the stage at an event to honour litterateurs on Wednesday.

Prof Lingaiah suffered a cardiac arrest while addressing the gathering at the event organised by the Foundation to honour veteran litterateurs for their contribution to Kannada literature.

He was rushed to a private nursing home, but he breathed his last on the way. Prof G Venkatasubbaiah, Prof L S Sheshagiri Rao, Dr M Chidanandamurthy, K Satyanarayana and Dr C Veeranna were present on the stage, when Lingaiah began his introductory address.

Last words

“The B M Sri Foundation has created history by felicitating Kannada literary figures aged between 70 and 100. This Foundation has achieved excellence by honouring such figures,” Prof Lingaiah said, before collapsing on the stage.